Spotting rack for pool balls



Nov. 15, 1932.

- C. YH. GUNN SPOTTING RACK FOR POOL BALLS 'Filed March 16, 1931 INVENTOR Cbms H. Gal/I222 BY 64% M A TORN BY Patented Nov. 15,1932 f I UNITED STATES I CHARLES H. GUNN, F BURLIN GAME, CALIFORNIA srom'rme RACK Eon root. BALLS Application filed March 16, 1931. Serial No. 522,844,

This invention relates to devices for spotting or positioning pool balls on the tables on which the balls are used. At present the fifteen balls used in pool are initially posi-c tioned on the table by placing them in a triangular rack which must be shifted back and forth on the table until the exact location for the setting of the balls has been 1 found. This takes quite a little time to perform accurately, and the adgacent portion of the table covering becomes worn to a greater extent than the remainder owing to the rubbe exactly the same.

vA further important object of the invention is to prov'idea means associated with the rack whereby the ballswill be covered and concealed without removing the device from the table, if desired; while at the same time the balls will be retained in their triangular set-up relation. This avoids the damage and loss of them to the operator ofv a pool room, which'isfrequently occasioned by persons practicing with the balls when they are set-up and in sight on the table if i only to slam the balls back and forth without the cue.

The device is also constructed so that it may be removed from the table with the balls covered and without disturbing them from their racked position, and the device may be laid fiat or hung up as may be desired. The balls are thus protected at all times when V not in use and they may be arranged in their .ence indicate corresponding parts in" the No player therefore has any advantage over another in 7 any set-up of the balls since all set-ups will.

ducega simple and'inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designedf These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by-a 'persual of the following specificationand claims.

- In the drawing similar characters of refer several views: v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the'device showing the rack member mainly covered.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the device showing the'rack moved out to deposit the balls onthe table. I i

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the rack fully retracted to cover and remove the balls from the table. 7 V

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section showing the catch means for releasably holding the rack in its covered position.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of the bottom wall of the container portion of the device. t y

Referringnowinore particularly to the characters of reference on the drawing, the numeral 1 denotes a rectangular frame which surrounds andsupports a triangular ball se ting rack 2, such as is commonly used; the sidesof the frame and rack being practically the same height. The sides of the frame slidably engage longitudinally grooves 3, formed in the side rails of the main rectangular frame 4. The length of the frame 4 is greater" than twice the length of the sliding frame 1', and its height is somewhat greater'tha'n the diameter of the pool balls 5; the frame 1 be- 7 ing symmetrically located relative to the top and bottom edges of the frame 4.

For substantially one-half its length the frame 4 is covered by a rigid wall or floorfi, which is preferably faced with billiard cloth and is provided with a raised beading 7 all around its edges. The bottom of the co responding portion of the frame 4 is also covered by a wall, which, however, is very thin so that the balls may pass on to the'same from the table with little resistance. Said bottom wall comprises a plate of sheet metal 8, which is covered on both sides with billiard cloth 9. To prevent the sagging of the lower layer of this cloth in the central portion of its area, the two thicknesses of cloth are stitched at intervals as at 10 through holes 11 drilled through the plate 8.

V A finger engaging bar 12 is fixed on and projects upwardly from the outer end of the frame 1 to a point above the level of the beading 7, so that the rack frame may be readily pulled out from its concealed or covered position. This bar may also serve as a means to be engaged by a releasable spring catch 13 so as to prevent undesired outward movement of the rack frame. v

An adjustable screw 14; is mounted in the outer end rail of the frame 4 and projects through the same so as to engage the'adjacent end of the rack frame when it is fully advanced out of the covered position.

At the same end of the frame 4 an orificed plate 15 projects outwardly from its bottom edge so that the device may be hung up in a vertical position with the rack containing portion at the bottom.

In operation to place the balls on the table from their covered position in the rack, or from the position shown in Fig. 3, the device is laid on the table with its'back end abutting against the cushion 16 of the table as irdicated in Fig. 2.

The catch 13 is disengaged and the rack frame is pulled out by manipulating the bar until the frame 1 abuts against the screw 14, which is adjusted so that the rack 2 is then accurately located in the proper relationship to the table.

i/Nith this movement of the rack the balls are of course moved so that they are then supported by the table, and the frame 4 may then be tilted up at its outer end as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. This of course will raise the rack frame clear of the balls and leave the latter in their proper setting on the table.

Then it is desired to re-rack the balls, the device is again placed on the table with the rack advanced, the balls are gathered up and placed in the rack and the latter is then re tracted to its covered position. The balls will then be supported by the lower wall of the container instead of by the table and the device may then be left on the table or lifted up and placed elsewhere as may be desired.

If it is desired to properly position the balls in the rack at the time, they may be initially placed on the floor 6 and there sorted before being placed in therack.

It is to be noted that the combination of the triangular rack 2 with the rectangular frame 1 leaves additional triangular openings 17 at the forward corners of said frame. These are of sufficient size to receive the cue ball as well as additional balls such as are used in certain games, so that these other balls are such detail may be resorted to as do not form.

a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A ball spotting rack comprising aball positioning and retaining rack, a frame in which said rack is slidably mounted for guided and limited movement, and support ing means for the rack and balls mounted on the frame at one end thereof.

2. A ball spotting rackcomprising a ball positioning and retaining rack, a rectangular frame adapted to be placed horizontally on a table and between the sides ofwhich the rack is mounted for sliding movement from end to end thereof, the length of the frame being substantially twice the length of the rack, and a thin floor secured to the bottom edge of the frame, the length of the floor being not less than that of the rack. j

3. A device as in claim 2, with an adjustable stop mounted on the frame at the end thereof opposite the floor to limit the movement of-the rack toward said end. I

4;. A structure as in claim 2, with a top wall on the frame directly above the floor, and an upstanding bead about the periphery of said wall. I I

5. A ball spotting rack comprising a rectangular frame, a relatively short rectangular frame slidably mounted in the firstnam'ed frame, and a triangular rack incorporated in part with said short frame, certain sides of said rack forming, with the adjacent sides of the frame, openings of a size sufiicient to hold a number of balls apart from those in the rack itself. I

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES H. GUN N. 

